Ambeth R. Ocampo's Blog, page 251

Sorry for the late posting but would you believe Inq.net forgot to load the column today? Its conclusion of last Wednesday's column on banknotes and history.


'Weather-weather lang' | Inquirer Opinion
opinion.inquirer.net
Banknotes are small, almost worthless, pieces of paper, but depending on the amount printed on them, one piece of paper is worth more than another with a different color and a different portrait on it. Those who cannot read the words and numbers on banknotes rely on color or the faces to know their ...

I presume this pre-war department store in Manila was a workers cooperative. One wonders what goods they had on sale, perhaps luxury items like Louis Vuitton at factory prices? Or was it a well-stocked deli and liquor shop like Santi's today?


History

My Inquirer column today, the first of two on reading history off the banknotes in your wallet.


'Mukhang pera!' | Inquirer Opinion
opinion.inquirer.net
The recent "arrest" and booking of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in St. Luke's hospital is a reminder that life is indeed like a wheel—sometimes we are on top, other times on the bottom. Her arrest should remind us of former President Joseph Estrada who was arrested,...

Walking around the Chiang Mai Botanical garden I spotted this sign for non-Asian tourists who are silly to think or even attempt to provoke a carabao :)

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Smile

My Ayala Museum lecture coming up on December 3, this was the review for the first of the "History Comes Alive" series. Definitely not sugar-coated and am glad she was entertained. :)


Unsugarcoated Reviews: Ambeth Ocampo's "Mukhang Pera" Lecture at the Ayala Museum
www.unsugarcoatedreviews.com

The young Fernando Amorsolo poses in his studio with his nude Caucasian models. He is best known for paintings of pastoral scenes of rice planting with sun-burned maidens and carabaos that seem to smile, but he painted many nudes from life.


Heroes

After 12 hours of travelling Im finally settled in my wonderful hotel in Chiang Mai, no floods here. Will post new pix tomorrow, have to rest first.

http://opinion.inquirer.net/17469/in-search-of-the-'russian-mountain'


In search of the 'Russian Mountain' | Inquirer Opinion
opinion.inquirer.net
People who have taken the trouble to go beyond "Noli," "Fili," and "Ultimo Adios" will discover that Rizal's letters can provide hours of fun. These were originally compiled under the direction of Teodoro M. Kalaw in the 1930s as part of a series called "Documentos de la biblioteca nacional de Fili...

TRES CHIC was a salon in downtown Manila that had a competitor named "Cuatro Chic." This salon tucked away in a Makati sidestreet probably competes with "Cheek" and "Sheikh"


Smile

My Inquirer column today on Rizal's nephews and nieces.


Rizal as teacher and pupil | Inquirer Opinion
opinion.inquirer.net
Last weekend I accompanied the Reading Association of the Philippines on a pilgrimage to Dapitan. Since most of the members were teachers, I advised them to soak in the atmosphere of the place and appreciate being able to literally tread the ground Jose Rizal walked on during his exile there from 18...